What is an Image Consultant?

What is an Image Consultant?

When I tell people that I am a Certified Image Consultant, they look a me like I have three heads,and usually make the assumption that I work in fashion. It’s not unusual for people who work in the retail clothing business to refer to themselves as image consultants.

As image consultants, it is important to inform people that a Certification program is available, requiring the Image Consultant to successfully pass an exam covering a wide range of topics.

Certification shows clients, colleagues and the media that you have achieved a competent level of training and knowledge in the image field and that you keep abreast of current thinking and technical knowledge.

AICI’s Mission is to Set and promote the highest professional standards for image consultants in Appearance, Behavior and Communication.

Yes, in addition to Appearance, we also need to share that we provide services that deal with Behavior and Communication, such as Dining Etiquette, Body Language, Professional Communication and Social Etiquette.

Why did I choose this profession? For two reasons – I am creative and I have compassion. I grew up with a strict Chinese father who insisted his daughters attend university. If I had a choice, I probably would have studied fashion or interior design. But as an obedient daughter, I achieved a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Toronto. Although it was not my first choice, I realized that providing therapy felt right because of my natural compassion for people. After years of counseling people in pain and from my own years of maturing, it became apparent to me that the world is judgmental. I decided to research the relationship between a good image and getting what you want, and the findings supported that the better one looked, the more benefits they would enjoy, such as getting that special job, a promotion, or passing the line up to enter an exclusive club.

Image consulting is not much different . Some of my clients come to me in pain because they are tired of being invisible, so I work with all ages and types of people to show them their true potential. The result is increased self-­esteem and a positive impact on their social and professional lives. Everyone has the right to feel good about themselves.

So, Image Consulting is not just about wearing the right clothing – it is about self-­esteem and increased self­-awareness, which is liberating and empowering. It is important to teach the public that we are qualified professionals who make a difference in our clients’ lives.

The importance of having a good image is not a new phenomenon. In the 1830’s, Ralph Waldo Emerson said:

“I wonder how long men would retain their ranks if divested of their clothing”.

We all do it – that is, end up pulling a big wad of lint from the dryer. And where does it come from? – our clothes. Each time we put our clothes into the dryer we lose some of the fibres. For all the convenience a clothes dryer may offer, it may come at the cost of shrinkage and replacing your clothes more frequently.

Here are some Tips to counteract dryer abuse:

· Be easy on the detergent amount and add ½ cup white vinegar to the last rinse. This helps remove residual detergent and clothes will be softer.

· Pants – remove partially dry pants and hang them on hangers by the hems or ankles. The weight of the pant will pull the fibres into place and prevent the pants from getting shorter after every wash.

· Speed Dry – include one dry bath towel with the wet item. The towel will absorb a great deal of the moisture and dry your item in half the time.

· Rubber backings, spandex, latex, elastic and painted logos should never be put in the dryer. Lay them flat or hang to dry.

· Don’t over wash or over dry clean your clothes. We bathe frequently, so unless your clothing is soiled, hang it to air dry and put it back into the closet the next day.

One Last Tip:

Always remove the plastic from the dry cleaners – not only are there residual chemicals on the plastic, but the air allows your clothes to breathe.

Lynda Jean Certified Image Consultant

Testimonials

I had a huge amount of black clothes in my wardrobe and never realized how washed out they made me look until I stopped wearing them. I also thought I could wear more or less any colour, and I didn’t give much thought to emphasizing what looked BEST. Lynda really taught me to be more discriminating, choosing colours that made me come alive.

Patricia H.

Psychologist

Madison had a wonderful time with you in your Manners Matter course. It was nice to see her so enthusiastic to teach me some new things. I noticed her posture was better that first day :) She was proud to teach her younger brother as well. We will definitely like to take that class again.

S. Coomer

Lynda's professional etiquette seminar is a must for any business wishing to ensure that its representatives know how to behave appropriately in the corporate world. My front line employees usually make the first impression of my firm on potential clients and professional colleagues; therefore I consider it essential that they are polished and confident in every situation.
Lynda presents this difficult topic in an easy and approachable way, making people feel comfortable to ask questions without awkwardness. This seminar brings real practical results. Now I feel confident that my employees have the skills they need to represent my firm in the most professional way possible. In addition, my staff now feel much more comfortable in both business and social situations.

Chantal Desloges, LL.B., C.S.

Barrister & Solicitor | Law Firm Principal

Even after having spent only a few hours with you, I still keep your advice in mind when dressing for work or shopping for new clothes. It helps a lot in simplifying the process for me and making it more enjoyable (or at least much less painful) than it otherwise would be. As a teacher, it's especially important for me to maintain an image of professionalism and respect and I've found that the simple tips you've given me allow me to achieve this easily and inexpensively.

Lee G.

High School Teacher

When Lynda went through my wardrobe with me, her eye for what worked and what didn't work helped me tremendously. What remained became the 'bones' of my wardrobe and I felt as if a huge depressing burden had been lifted from my shoulders. It's like losing weight. It is so much easier now to make smarter fashion decisions. Now I get compliments on what I'm wearing.

Helen W.

Senior Designer

Our organization, like many others, faced a challenge with our younger staff: how to define for them what proper business attire means in today's workplace. We turned to Lynda Jean and are delighted we did so.
Lynda, through a "Lunch 'N Learn" session, brought down to earth, practical advice to our staff in a way that was informative without being condescending or crossing any human resources boundaries. I am pleased to be able to say that we had very positive feedback from our staff on Lynda's presentation and, equally importantly, we have noticed a definite improvement in our staff's attire.

Michelle Capiobanco

Manager, New Business Development

Lynda Jean is a Certified Image and Etiquette Consultant who works with individual clients of all genders and ages, groups and corporate clients to enhance their appearance, behaviour and communication, creating a confident and credible impression.